THE memory of her baby son and the ability to help more ill children is what spurred on a Bournemouth woman to trek the Sahara desert for charity.

Charlie Staples, 34, says it was amazing, inspiring and she is so chuffed that she managed to finish the six-day challenge, from March 12 – 17, which took her across the desert with 28 other people for varied causes.

She chose Naomi House, for which she has so far raised a massive £5,200 through the trek, who helped her baby son, Seth, in his final hours before he passed away, aged just 24-days-old.

Charlie said: “We started the walk on Sunday 12 March and it wasn’t easy, although I didn’t expect it to be, but we were walking for seven hours a day, in sometimes 35 degree heat.

“I think that adrenaline gets you through, but walking on the sand dunes is a challenge because for every step you take, it’s like taking six back as the sand is so fine that it just slips from under your feet.

“But then, I just think ‘How many people can say that they have done this?’ and I was doing it for the memory of Seth and to help Naomi House.”

It did mean that Charlie had to spend time away from her second son, Paddy, two, and her husband, Pete.

“As a surprise, Paddy was there to meet me at the airport when I arrived back on the Sunday, which was nice for Mother’s Day.

“It was a fantastic trip, if not very hot, but also very rewarding. It does make you wonder what I should do next.”

It was also a personal challenge for Charlie, to see how far she could push herself.

“You don’t realise how tough you are until you do something like this.

“I would say that it’s good for the soul to do it.

“I also just want to say a big ‘thank you’ to everyone who sponsored and supported me in this challenge. It means a lot.”

For more information, go to Justgiving.com/charliestaples.